“We went 43 seasons without a losing season,” interim athletic director Tom Osborne said at a press conference this morning, just two hours after firing Bill Callahan. “In the last four years, we had two…At what point do you still have credibility with the public? At what point can you still have a powerful impact on your own players? There comes a point when it becomes dicey. I didn’t want to see Bill in that position. I didn’t want to see the University of Nebraska in that position.”
“I like Bill Callahan,” Osborne said. “I think he’s a professional. At the same time, there was something missing.”
Osborne said the meeting with Callahan lasted five minutes, although he had scheduled it for 30. Callahan asked if he was fired. Osborne said he was.
“He probably felt that there wasn’t much to talk about and I also felt the same to some degree,” Osborne said.
[via NE State Paper]
November 24th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
I am sure that Bill Callahan is a nice and well-meaning man. I have also heard that he is a good offensive designer. However, he recruited star athletes, according to comments each year, and he has never been able to produce with them. One thing I have always admired about NE football coaches is their ability to make the program match the player, not vice versa. It seems that for years we had coaches who took what they had and made it a TEAM, something we have not seen for 4 years. We also had a defense that always made wonderful adjustments throughout the game. I thought it was interesting when the paper reported that Cosgrove said the players could not adapt at one game because they only knew one defense for this game. I feel sorry for the players because they are young men who have tried their best and were just not coached to their abilities. I commend them and hope that things will go well for them in the future.
November 24th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Last year, when John Blake was pushed out and Buddy Wyatt was hired, some people on the team were upset because a guy they had come to admire and develop a relationship with was leaving. But, what they got in Buddy Wyatt was a person who is everything John Blake was and more. The players feel they are learning more now under Wyatt than they ever had with Blake. So, I say, do not feel sorry for these players. Those that have not developed and just sat and rotted while they just watched practice are going to get the chance to finally “DEVELOP” into the players they were considerend back in high school!!!
November 25th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Let the speculation begin…
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2007/11/25/4749cd307e9d9
November 25th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Good catch, Ed!!
November 25th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Anyone interested in a good discussion, check out this LSU site:
http://www.tigerforums.com/tigers-den/63553-thought-you-might-want-know.html#post691178
November 25th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
More news — now from Buffalo:
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/214731.html
November 25th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Just go to nebraska.rivals.com. Sean Callahan reports T.O. is in Louisianna.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
@ Husker Brad
You know that source of mine that knew we would be wearing all white and running that spread look against CU? Well he contacted me this evening and told me that He has talked to Dr. Tom and T.O. said he will be hiring Bo Pelini within the next few days. I know this is unconfirmed but my source hasnt ever gotten it wrong in the past. Go Huskers and welcome Bo!
November 26th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Pelini head coach. Gill OC.
November 26th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Never happen LE. That would be a great way to make everybody happy though wouldn’t it.
November 26th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Pete, I hope you are right (again!), but even you seemed surprised when you were last time.
Pete Says:
November 23rd, 2007 at 11:28 am
Holy Hell I was right! The spread! The all-white! Go get ‘em Huskers!
November 26th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
[Via Huskers Illustrated]
From Sean Callahan on what he thinks about Jim Grobe.
Here’s the most up to date info on Jim Grobe of Wake Forest Reply
——————————————————————————–
Rob Daniels of the Greensboro News & Record was over at the Wake Forest football complex today and said he would be “real surprised” if there’s anything going on between Jim Grobe and Nebraska.
Right now Grobe has the maximum seven coaches out on the road recruiting (Grobe is one of them) and they are all telling recruits there is nothing to the rumors with Grobe potentially leaving or looking to leave. In fact, Wake is scheduled to have two unofficial recruiting visitors in today at 4 p.m. CST.
One interesting note though was a plane actually flew from Baton Rouge to Greensboro today, but it was a medical transport plane. Other than that, there has been no suspicious air activity at the Winston-Salem or Greensboro airports.
The source I talked to also said Grobe is currently on a 10 year contract and he has always said money is something that never has motivated him before.
I’ll tell you guys, it’s starting to sound like it’s going to be Bo Pelini, based on everything we are hearing today. This obviously shouldn’t come as that big of a surprise if it is Pelini, as he was Osborne’s first known target.
Sean Callahan
HuskersIllustrated.com Team Publisher
nebraska.rivals.com
scallahan@rivals.com
November 26th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
@Husker Brad
What’s going on Brad. I got tied up at work and couldn’t make it to the game. I was hoping for a first hand report on the BBall game!
November 26th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
I know Pelini is the Fans choice and Gill is a close 2nd. But something tells me Nebraska is settling if either gets the job. This is a great job and we are settling for a Coordinator or a Coach of Buffalo. I hope Tom isn’t letting his Scarlet colored glasses get in the way.
Is there a darkhorse out there? Why rush to make a mistake — didn’t Tom pick Solich?
OK — let me have it. At this point I’m used to it.
November 26th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I agree with some of that Ed. I have as much respect and appreciation for osborne as anyone, but I worry about that as well. ill say this half jokingly, his last two recommendations were frank solich and steve pedersen! but I’m not too sure i would say that nu is settling if pelini or gill were to be hired as head coach. both are somewhat unproven so it would be really hard to say. theres risks with both of them.
November 26th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
@Ed,
I wouldn’t call it a first hand P.O.V. I will try to go to games, but the majority will be either watching them on T.V. or listening on the Radio. I’m in Omaha and with 2-3 games a week that’s a toll I don’t want to take with 2 kids at home. That being said, It should be coming soon.
November 26th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Just giving you a hard time Brad. If you ever want to go to a game and sit in Doc Crew section, let me know. I can’t make every game either.
November 26th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Sundays are bad for me right now, some saturdays might work, during the week are not that good either, so maybe. Thanks for the offer Ed!!